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Winsage

January 18, 2026

Windows 11: Why the Start menu is suddenly huge

The January 2026 security updates have made the new Windows 11 Start menu widely accessible, following its initial limited rollout with the November update. The redesigned Start menu is nearly double the size of its predecessor, reflecting a strategic choice by Microsoft to create a single, scrollable interface. It features pinned applications at the top, followed by recommended files and programs, with an integrated "All Apps" section. The expansion is due to increased columns (eight app tiles side by side), categorized app overviews, and additional functional areas for recommended content. Although users can arrange apps in a classic list view, there is no option for manual resizing, as Microsoft prioritizes design over flexibility. The addition of a side-folding phone bar for connected smartphones further exacerbates the space issue, potentially causing the Start menu to occupy nearly the entire screen on smaller displays. Microsoft has no plans to downsize the Start menu, and the only workaround involves adjusting global screen scaling, which affects the entire system.

Winsage

November 11, 2025

Microsoft Starts Rolling Out Redesigned Start Menu to All Windows 11 Users

Microsoft released its November 2025 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11, featuring a redesigned Start Menu and enhancements for the 25H2 and 24H2 versions. The KB5068861 update includes: - Improvements for Copilot+ PCs: - Click to Do enhancements for tasks like translating text and selecting objects. - File Explorer updates allowing quick action commands when hovering over files. - Voice Access enhancements with Fluid Dictation for better grammar and punctuation. - Enhanced Windows Search with semantic search capabilities. - Redesigned Start Menu with a scrollable All section, responsive layout, and Phone Link integration. - Taskbar updates with a new battery icon indicating charging status and health, along with battery life percentage displayed on the lock screen. - A new security control for Administrator Protection available in preview. - Quality updates addressing issues with Task Manager and gaming handheld devices. Two changes related to File Explorer have been postponed for a future update: recommended files for Microsoft Account users and third-party cloud storage integration.

Winsage

November 11, 2025

Microsoft hits the breaks on Windows 11 File Explorer ‘recommended files’ feature

Microsoft has paused the rollout of a new feature for File Explorer on Windows 11 that showcases "recommended" files at the top of the Home tab. The feature began its initial rollout on October 28 but was halted on November 5. It allows cloud storage providers to display cloud-based placeholder files in File Explorer, similar to OneDrive functionality. The feature was initially rolled out to domain-joined Windows 11 PCs and later expanded to consumer-facing PCs. It displays recently downloaded or opened applications and files with large thumbnails and highlights recent activity from shared documents and cloud files. Users can disable this feature if they choose. Microsoft has not provided a timeline for when the rollout might resume.

Winsage

November 10, 2025

How to use the new Windows 11 Start menu, now rolling out

The Windows Start menu will undergo its first significant redesign since 2021, with the rollout scheduled for November 11, coinciding with the Patch Tuesday update. The update introduces a scrollable Start menu and places the "All apps" list on the main screen. The redesigned menu offers two user interface options: a categories view, which organizes applications by type and prioritizes frequently used apps, and a grid view that maintains a classic A to Z order. The menu is adaptive, adjusting to fit screen sizes, with larger displays showing more columns of pinned apps and recommendations. Users can disable the Recommended feed through Settings. While the new Start menu improves usability, it may occupy excessive screen space on lower resolution PCs, and there is a desire for the ability to create custom categories. The rollout will begin with the November 2025 Patch Tuesday and is part of Build 26200.7019 and 26100.7019 or newer, but it will not be activated by default.

Winsage

November 7, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7070 (Dev & Beta Channels)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7070 (KB5070300) has been released to both the Dev and Beta Channels, offering the same builds for Windows 11, version 25H2. Users in the Dev Channel can switch to the Beta Channel while both channels are on the same build. The update includes new features such as customizable default dashboards in Widgets, numbered badges on the Widget Board navigation bar, enhancements to Quick Machine Recovery, updates to Smart App Control allowing toggling without a clean install, reintroduction of people icons in File Explorer, and temporary disabling of certain features in File Explorer. Fixes include addressing issues with desktop interactions, File Explorer functionality, taskbar settings, and Settings navigation. Known issues involve problems with the Start menu and system tray visibility, as well as flickering in the copy progress dialog in dark mode. Updates are based on Windows 11, version 25H2 and may not be released beyond Windows Insiders.

Winsage

October 30, 2025

How to get the new Windows Start menu now

Microsoft has updated the Start menu in Windows 11, allowing users to access a comprehensive list of installed applications without needing to click the “All” button. The new Start menu offers three viewing options: a grid layout, a simple alphabetical list, and categorized grouping. Users can disable the Recommended section to see a direct list of applications beneath pinned shortcuts. To access the new Start menu, users must be on build 26100.7019, 26200.7019, or newer versions of Windows 11. If the new menu does not appear automatically, users can enable it using the ViveTool utility by executing specific commands in a command prompt with administrative privileges.

Winsage

October 29, 2025

Microsoft Issues Week D Preview Updates for Windows 11

Microsoft has released the Week D preview updates for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, introducing Preview Update KB5067036, which upgrades version 25H2 to build 26200.7019 and version 24H2 to build 26100.7019. Key features include: - Copilot+ PCs: Improvements to Click to Do, allowing text translation, unit conversion, object selection, and interaction with Live Persona cards from Microsoft 365. Touchscreen access is available via a two-finger press. - File Explorer: Quick action commands in Home view for signed-in users, with future support for work and school actions. - Voice Access: Enhanced Fluid Dictation for grammar and punctuation, configurable command delays, and added support for Japanese. - Agent in Settings: Now supports the French language. - Windows Search: Enhanced semantic search available on all Copilot+ PCs. For all Windows 11 PCs: - Start Menu: Redesigned with a scrollable All section, responsive layout, and Phone Link integration. - Taskbar: Updated battery icon indicating status colors and an option to display battery life percentage. - File Explorer: Home view shows recommended files for MSA users and supports third-party cloud storage integration. - Lock Screen: Updated battery icons from the Taskbar are now visible. - Settings: The Email & accounts page has been renamed to Your accounts. - Administrator Protection: New security control available in Windows Security or through Microsoft Intune or Group Policy. - Quality Updates: Includes bug fixes, security enhancements, and new AI model versions for Copilot+ PCs. These features are part of a Controlled Feature Release (CFR) and will be rolled out gradually.

Winsage

October 23, 2025

Windows 11’s new Start menu is almost here – you could get it as soon as next month

A new test build for Windows 11 has been released in the Release Preview channel, indicating that a revamped Start menu is forthcoming. This build allows users to remove the recommendations section from the Start menu and enhances the Voice Access feature with 'Fluid Dictation' for better voice accuracy. File Explorer will include a 'recommended files' section, though this feature is not available in the European Economic Area due to EU regulations. The taskbar will feature a color-changing battery icon and an option to display the battery percentage permanently. New functionalities for Copilot+ PCs include text selection for translation within the operating system. The update also resolves issues with Windows Update, ensuring that the system complies with user requests to update and shut down without rebooting, and fixes an installation failure error code. Some users have already accessed the new Start menu features through the test build or tools like ViVeTool.

Winsage

October 23, 2025

Windows 11’s Redesigned Start Menu is Now Available for Release Preview Testers

Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel can now access a redesigned Start Menu and several new features through the KB5067036 update for the 25H2 and 24H2 versions of Windows 11. Key enhancements include: - A redesigned Start Menu that adjusts to screen size, with a scrollable “All” section and two views: ‘Category’ and ‘Grid’. A new mobile device button opens the Phone Link sidebar. - New battery icons on the taskbar and lock screen, with a green icon indicating charging and a yellow icon for low battery (20% or below). Users can display battery percentage in the system tray. - Copilot Vision integration in the taskbar, allowing users to hover over an app icon for a thumbnail preview and a “Share with Copilot” button to analyze app content. - Improvements in File Explorer, with recommended files accessible for personal and local Microsoft accounts (excluding EEA users) and new commands like “Open file location” and “Ask Copilot”. - Fluid Dictation in Voice Access for Copilot+ PCs, providing real-time corrections for voice dictation. - Click to Do improvements for Copilot+ PCs, enabling translation of on-screen text, unit conversions, table detection for Excel, and a Freeform selection mode. These features are expected to be available to non-Insiders later this month with the optional October update and a public rollout is anticipated next month during the November 2024 Patch Tuesday updates.

Winsage

August 21, 2025

I’m fed up with ads in Windows 11, but Microsoft may introduce yet another one to the Start menu

Microsoft is exploring a new feature in the Start menu of Windows 11 that promotes its Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot offerings through tailored recommendations, currently in the experimental phase. This feature is not yet available to the public but aims to enhance user interaction by suggesting actions like drafting documents or generating images. Users can disable these recommendations by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Start, but doing so will also remove visibility of recent files in File Explorer. This initiative reflects Microsoft's understanding of diverse user preferences and aims to balance promoting AI tools with respecting user autonomy.